# Unable to open multiple instances of Cursor IDE (WSL) **URL:** \ **Category:** Bug Reports\ **Created:** [August 27, 2025, 3:57pm UTC](https://forum.cursor.com/t/unable-to-open-multiple-instances-of-cursor-ide-wsl/132148 "2025-08-27T15:57:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![heyJonBray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/cursor1/user_avatar/forum.cursor.com/heyjonbray/32/32918_2.png) [@heyJonBray](https://forum.cursor.com/u/heyJonBray)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2025, 3:57pm UTC](https://forum.cursor.com/t/unable-to-open-multiple-instances-of-cursor-ide-wsl/132148/1 "2025-08-27T15:57:48Z")
### Where does the bug appear (feature/product)? Cursor IDE ### Describe the Bug after updating to 1.4.5 I began encountering a bug where I cannot have more than one cursor window open at a time. the first one I open works find, but when I open a second one it has an unexpected error and remote host server errors (WSL). this is whether I open it to a single file, existing or new directory. if a second window gets opened, I will often get misc errors in the original window like extensions not working (i.e. linters throwing false positives, unable to open or use extensions), files not saving, or agents being unable to call tools. this is only present in the WSL remote environment, if I open multiple tabs in Windows everything is fine. another side-effect is that the VS Code Server gets updated almost every time I open cursor in WSL, as opposed to just once on a new version install like usual ```bash [11:39:07] [jon]:~/coinbase/x402 ✗ $ code . Updating VS Code Server to version faa03b17cce93e8a80b7d62d57f5eda6bb6ab9f0 Removing previous installation... Installing VS Code Server for x64 (faa03b17cce93e8a80b7d62d57f5eda6bb6ab9f0) Downloading: 100% Unpacking: 100% Unpacked 4988 files and folders to /home/jon/.cursor-server/bin/faa03b17cce93e8a80b7d62d57f5eda6bb6ab9f0. ``` ### Steps to Reproduce - be on WSL - open cursor `code .` - `cd` to another directory - `code .` in that directory ### Expected Behavior multiple instances of cursor can be opened in multiple directories at a time ### Screenshots / Screen Recordings ![cursor-error-827-1](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/cursor1/original/3X/b/3/b3938b5749edbe70fd57800c62cda4934cbfb8ba.png) ![cursor-error-827-2.png](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/cursor1/original/3X/2/6/267e0e345bb797f4e84bf61164e309877a5d5336.png) ### Operating System Windows 10/11 ### Current Cursor Version (Menu → About Cursor → Copy) Version: 1.4.5 (user setup) VSCode Version: 1.99.3 Commit: af58d92614edb1f72bdd756615d131bf8dfa5290 Date: 2025-08-13T02:08:56.371Z Electron: 34.5.8 Chromium: 132.0.6834.210 Node.js: 20.19.1 V8: 13.2.152.41-electron.0 OS: Windows\_NT x64 10.0.22631 ### Does this stop you from using Cursor Sometimes - I can sometimes use Cursor ---
**Author:** ![heyJonBray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/cursor1/user_avatar/forum.cursor.com/heyjonbray/32/32918_2.png) [@heyJonBray](https://forum.cursor.com/u/heyJonBray)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2025, 4:52pm UTC](https://forum.cursor.com/t/unable-to-open-multiple-instances-of-cursor-ide-wsl/132148/3 "2025-08-27T16:52:26Z")
just updated to `1.5.5` and the issue persists Version: 1.5.5 (user setup) VSCode Version: 1.99.3 Commit: 823f58d4f60b795a6aefb9955933f3a2f0331d70 Date: 2025-08-25T17:40:25.290Z Electron: 34.5.8 Chromium: 132.0.6834.210 Node.js: 20.19.1 V8: 13.2.152.41-electron.0 OS: Windows\_NT x64 10.0.22631 ---
**Author:** ![ravirahman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/cursor1/user_avatar/forum.cursor.com/ravirahman/32/20386_2.png) [@ravirahman](https://forum.cursor.com/u/ravirahman)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2025, 5:17am UTC](https://forum.cursor.com/t/unable-to-open-multiple-instances-of-cursor-ide-wsl/132148/5 "2025-08-28T05:17:22Z")
Hi @heyJonBray, could you try these instructions to perform a clean installation? Note that this will wipe all state, so I’d recommend you back things up first: On the WSL side, run: ```auto rm -rf ~/.cursor rm -rf ~/.cursor-server ``` Then, locally, run the uninstaller, and then also remove the following folders: ```auto rd -r %UserProfile%\.cursor rd -r %UserProfile%\AppData\Local\Programs\Cursor rd -r %UserProfile%\AppData\Roaming\Cursor ``` ---
**Author:** ![heyJonBray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/cursor1/user_avatar/forum.cursor.com/heyjonbray/32/32918_2.png) [@heyJonBray](https://forum.cursor.com/u/heyJonBray)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2025, 6:30pm UTC](https://forum.cursor.com/t/unable-to-open-multiple-instances-of-cursor-ide-wsl/132148/6 "2025-09-02T18:30:30Z")
what specifically should I back up? will this wipe extensions or settings that aren’t defined in `settings.json`? ---
**Author:** ![heyJonBray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/cursor1/user_avatar/forum.cursor.com/heyjonbray/32/32918_2.png) [@heyJonBray](https://forum.cursor.com/u/heyJonBray)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2025, 5:29pm UTC](https://forum.cursor.com/t/unable-to-open-multiple-instances-of-cursor-ide-wsl/132148/8 "2025-09-09T17:29:51Z")
@ravirahman just want to follow up and see what specifically should be backed up ---
**Author:** ![condor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/cursor1/user_avatar/forum.cursor.com/condor/32/73148_2.png) [@condor](https://forum.cursor.com/u/condor)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2025, 5:32pm UTC](https://forum.cursor.com/t/unable-to-open-multiple-instances-of-cursor-ide-wsl/132148/10 "2025-09-09T17:32:10Z")
hi @heyJonBray I will help out, back up any folder that you would delete. Example: backup those folders as they contain config. WSL: ```auto ~/.cursor ~/.cursor-server ``` PS: ```auto %UserProfile%\.cursor ``` ---
**Author:** ![system](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/cursor1/user_avatar/forum.cursor.com/system/32/99069_2.png) [@system](https://forum.cursor.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2025, 5:32pm UTC](https://forum.cursor.com/t/unable-to-open-multiple-instances-of-cursor-ide-wsl/132148/11 "2025-10-01T17:32:22Z")
Closed on October 1, 2025, 5:32pm UTC This topic was automatically closed 22 days after the last reply. New replies are no longer allowed.